Gingrich: I think Palin’s running for president

posted at 9:00 pm on July 30, 2010 by Allahpundit

“There are going to be lots of Republicans running — Gov. Romney clearly, Gov. Palin, Gov. Huckabee, Gov. Mitch Daniels, Gov. Haley Barbour, Gov. Tim Pawlenty. I think John Thune, the senator from South Dakota, is probably going to get in. Ron Paul’s probably going to run again,” Gingrich said in an interview with Newsmax, a conservative magazine. “I think it’s going to be a lively campaign, there’ll be a lot of good candidates.”…

Gingrich, asked specifically about Palin, said she’d be a formidable opponent.

“I think she’s already a very strong personality and has the potential to be a very strong candidate,” he said.

The only two who are guaranteed to run are Romney and Pawlenty, and I think T-Paw might be in it not because he expects to win but to raise his national profile in anticipation for a future presidential (or Senate) run. Same with Thune, actually. Everyone else, including Sarahcuda, will start putting organizations in place in case they decide to make their move but will hold off on committing until there’s a better sense of how the economy will be circa late 2011. If it’s not looking good — and early indications are that it won’t be — then The One is vulnerable and it makes sense to run. If it starts to rebound before next summer, beating him will be tough even with him carrying around all the baggage of his first term. In which case, if you’re as young as Palin is, why risk it? Just bide your time and focus on 2016 when you don’t have to worry about facing an incumbent. Remember too that Palin, perhaps uniquely among the GOP field, is well positioned to jump into the race very late if it looks like no one’s gaining traction, which makes it almost impossible to guess right now what she’ll be doing. She’s probably taking the “wait and see” approach, as well she should, and Newt’s almost certainly just being cautious here, mentioning her as part of the group so that he doesn’t take any flak for omitting her. Exit question: What does he mean by “she has the potential to be a very strong candidate”? Is she not one already? Sic ‘im, Palinistas!

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ap, her appeal is as high now as it’s likely to be 4, 8 or 12 years from now. Also, your “2016” pitch seems to assume Obama’s a lock on reelection. If not, wouldn’t she have to wait for 2020 (remember Palin? Former Alaskan gov., VP candidate… A dozen years ago) or take on a GOP incumbent in 2016.

I don’t think it’s certain she’s in for 2012, but it does look pretty likely.

I’ll definitely post a mea culpa if I’m wrong, but the notion that she’s not running frankly makes me laugh.

Of course, she’s running. She’s absolutely indicated in every interview I’ve seen that she has no problem with losing in a primary, if that’s the outcome. She constantly says that competition is good for party.

Exit question: What does he mean by “she has the potential to be a very strong candidate”? Is she not one already? Sic ‘im, Palinistas!

I think he means if she studies really really really hard and memorizes all the things she needs to know so she can keep up with him.
That’s a lot of 3×5 cards she will be filling out if the description of her study for the debates was reasonably accurate.
In the crawl before you walk spirit I recommend her supporters chant “Study Sarah Study” for the next twelve months before they pick up the “run Sarah Run” chant….

I think T-Paw might be in it not because he expects to win but to raise his national profile in anticipation for a future presidential (or Senate) run. Same with Thune, actually.

Disagree- if Thune gets in, his chances are pretty good (Intrade currently ranks him #3, just slightly behind Palin). He comes from a state that borders Iowa, is telegenic, and provides an alternative for those who consider Romney too moderate but don’t think Palin can win. If he runs he could easily be a top three finisher in Iowa.

Well I am betting this will be a spirited thread, trolls will come running! I say bring on all of them, get in front of the people and then we will make a choice. Until we have declarations, let us work on 2010 and taking back Congress.

In the crawl before you walk spirit I recommend her supporters chant “Study Sarah Study” for the next twelve months before they pick up the “run Sarah Run” chant….

Bradky on July 30, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Because her political instincts are so bad and she is so stoopid that GOP candidates all over the country are begging for her endorsement…and she never, ever puts out op-eds or books or Facebook posts that are substantive on policy, right?

Your argument is so 2008. Try to keep up, please. It’s 2010 now and she leads the GOP pack in favorability, and is polling evenly with the One despite nonstop MSM attack.

Exit question: What does he mean by “she has the potential to be a very strong candidate”? Is she not one already? Sic ‘im, Palinistas!

A hand grenade has the potential for a very strong explosion. All you have to do is pull the pin. I’ll give Newt the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant it in that sense, unlike AP who assumes some other meaning in an attempt to stir this weak stew into a boiling pot.

My sense is that the only viable 2016 option for Palin actually requires that she runs in 2012.

Actually, the guy who can afford to swoop in late is Romney — because of his ability to self-finance and his following among the GOP elite, and the generally hospitable coverage he gets from the press. Palin can’t swoop in late because any 2012 victory scenario requires her to build a fairly massive grassroots organization. That takes time.She can’t reasonably expect to ride a wave of positive media coverage that successful late entrants depend on. The biggest question mark for Palin is money. I think if she doesn’t run, it will be because she just doesn’t think she could put together the financing for a winning campaign.

Pawlenty shouldn’t be understimated, but his strategy is built on being The Third Man in a triple with a Palin and elite-backed Anti-Palin.

Thune has real potential but he has fire-in-the-belly issues, and he just hasn’t been through the national media buzzsaw in any appreciable way yet.

Barbour is a no go. I’d be shocked if he actually jumped in.

Gingrich sees 2012 as his “Churchill in 1940″ moment, but it would take genuine economic or national security tragedy to make his victory happen.

Mitch Daniels is going to be the Howard Baker of the 2012 race. “Who,” you say? Exactly.

Santorum won’t win, but I predict could play a very interesting gadfly role.

I was listening to an NPR local broadcast in Boston this morning in which the host was interviewing a local college poli-sci professor as to his reaction to recent polls showing Mitt leading all Republican presidential hopefuls. She dished him softball questions and the professor gave bland, disinterested answers.

Then the host opened up the line of questioning to include other possible contenders for the Republican nomination – derisively throwing Sarah Palin’s name into the question as so much red meat.

The professor didn’t miss a beat. He immediately fired back “If Sarah Palin enters the race she will electrify the Republican base.”

Not a single chance she’ll run….and why should she? She’s making mucho bucks, commands a huge following and will have much to say about who ultimately gets the nomination and she doesn’t have ONE of the associated headaches to deal with. She’s in high cotton right now; no sense messing with that kind of success.

well allah shows to all his total lack of politcal thinking. The economy is secondary to Obama at this point. Even if it improves it will not improve enough to wipe away the last 2years of Obamanomics/powerplays/socialism. Obama is wounded perhaps mortally irt elections. That being said if Palin waits until 2016 there is a very good chance their will be a GOP president in 2012. Which means she will have to wait until 2020 and that is even if she does not have a VP from that GOP president to fight. Also the longer Palin waits the less power she gains. Who is going to support her for 6 more years when she wasn’t willing to fight the good fight in 2012?

Nope if Palin followed allah’s “advice” she will be a washed up politican with a small following in 2016.

Furthermore Palin HAS BEEN doing everything a skilled politican needs to do to set up a run in 2012 except building organizations “incase” she needs them. She has been raising her name recongition. she has been building a strong warchest, building her power base within the GOP establishment by endorsements. She has been laying down her policies and platforms for all to see. she has been making the rounds of FOXnews. And while she travels the country speaking and campaigning she has been quielty meeting with big donors, and the movers and shakers behind the scenes.

The only thing she has not been doing is the status quo of the typical politcal campaign. Hiring inside the beltway jerks that have about as much politcal sense as Allah does.

Palin has been running for 2012 since July 3rd 2009 and only idiots that buy into the media narrative have failed to see it.

Not a single chance she’ll run….and why should she? She’s making mucho bucks, commands a huge following and will have much to say about who ultimately gets the nomination and she doesn’t have ONE of the associated headaches to deal with. She’s in high cotton right now; no sense messing with that kind of success.

GoldenEagle4444 on July 30, 2010 at 9:30 PM

What in Sarah Palin’s life has led you to believe she’s in this for the bucks or for herself? This is a woman who gave up a six-figure gig as an Oil and Gas Commissioner, falling back on her husband’s blue-collar income, rather than sacrifice her personal integrity. All she had to do was shut up and close her eyes to the corruption, and she wouldn’t do it.

beating him will be tough even with him carrying around all the baggage of his first term

I disagree. Leader Dearest had no real record to point out the last time around and still didn’t blowout his opponent.

Everyone’s had a good look at “hope and change”. Now Leader Dearest has a record to refer too. Let’s start with the easy one, the apologies. The deficit spending will be a good talking point. Unemployment around 10% for nearly two years by the time the General Election comes around. Plus those percieved promises of paying people’s mortgages and filling their gas tanks for them hasn’t happened either.

The O hype will be flat next time around, because a lot of people know they had been snookered.

What does he mean by “she has the potential to be a very strong candidate”? Is she not one already? Sic ‘im, Palinistas!

Are we dogs to you, Allah? What’s so hard to understand about what Newt said?

It’s quite clear that he is speaking future tense (context, man, context) and WRT the presidential election. Palin is not a candidate now because she has declared the focus is on November 2010. She is very strong now, but she is not a candidate. Newt thus looks at current events and extrapolates to a future situation.

does anyone think that Obama would have been a stronger candadate in 2012 if he would not have run in 2008? does anything that Obama would be thinking of running in 2012 if he did not run in 2008 and hillary ran and won in 2008? does anyone think that Obama would run in 2016 against hillary’s VP candadate if she would have won in 2008 and Obama decided to wait until 2012?

Nope politics is about timing and striking while the iron is hot. for those that wait you have Newt has a role model. He could have run in 1996 and possibly beat Clinton instead he waited till 2000 and then 2004 then 2008 now its 2012.

Palin will run in 2012 if for no other reason then to keep her supporters around until 2016.

If we are looking back at hypotheticals, I wonder if Hillary has realized that her best shot at being president might have been 2004. Is there any doubt that she would have made a better candidate and made fewer mistakes than John F’n Kerry? Enough to pick up a few million more votes?

Palin will run in 2012 if for no other reason then to keep her supporters around until 2016.

unseen on July 30, 2010 at 9:54 PM

Hate to disagree with you, unseen, but this isn’t about Palin’s supporters either for her or for us: it’s about the future of the country.
She will run if the country needs her (or someone just like her) who can bring down the conservative hammer on Obamunism.

Snark and lie about Bush all you want, but under President Bush and up until the Soros-engineered crash in September 2008, America enjoyed record levels of employment, productivity and prosperity, largely due to the Bush tax cuts and the fact that the Fed kept interest rates low.

Uh, she’s not a pu… wimp like you AP. She’s a fighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if Palin cares more about the effect of another 4 years of an Obama administration on America than her own career. She’s funny like that.

Apparently my sarcasm was lost in the message. I agree 100% with what you said. I’m recommending that the Republicans simply start exaggerating and lying about the record the same way the Obama administration does. Hell, say that during Bush’s eight years Republicans created 300 million jobs! If Obama can make claims that are pulled out of um… someplace, so can Republicans!

If Obama can make claims that are pulled out of um… someplace, so can Republicans!

Star20 on July 30, 2010 at 10:59 PM

Why make things up if we don’t have to?
Republicans can stand on their records and should have been doing so a lot more vocally for the last 10 years.
If we’re going to take back Washington for “we, the people” we must take our stand for what we know to be true and right.

I find it hard to believe that any warmbody with and (R) by there name can not beat Barack in 2012.
I think that and 2010 will tell us everything we need to know about the future. If we can’t win big in those two elections the other election that follow will not matter to much

Allah has liberal friends and higher ups in the MSM he is in contact with and wants to stay on their good side – he can do this by making sexist comments about Palin and echoing Democrat talking points.

She will run if the country needs her (or someone just like her) who can bring down the conservative hammer on Obamunism.
BTW, A.P., Sarah isn’t a “dude” or even dude-like.
Jenfidel on July 30, 2010 at 10:07 PM

Really? Is she going to wear a little Superwoman cape or a funny hat? So, you’ve gone beyond fan-girlism to some vomit-inducing hero worship? She’s going to fly in singing ‘Here I come to saaave the daaaaaaaay!’

Just stop it. Please. She doesn’t deserve worship. She may be a decent human being; kind to puppies and small children but please stop with the gushing worship. Of course, given her friendship with John McCain, I personally doubt that. I think she’s a very cynical operator who is going to give her supporters, those who still have one foot still in the real world, a gut ache with her actual governance. Which makes your ‘saving America’ meme all that much more nauseating.

Allah has liberal friends and higher ups in the MSM he is in contact with and wants to stay on their good side – he can do this by making sexist comments about Palin and echoing Democrat talking points.

Allah is HA’s version of David Weigel.

Mr Purple on July 31, 2010 at 2:12 AM

Wow … I stay in a constant state of pissed off at Allah, but wouldn’t go THERE!!

I don’t see Palin as opportunistic i.e. waiting to see if Obama is vulnerable or not…I see her as running if she feels that his policies are destroying the country and he has to be stopped. If she doesn’t see anyone willing to die politically to do the right thing (if necessary) then she will run …for Palin it’s not about having the title of POTUS Allah it’s about doing something to stop our slide into socialism with the most corrupt government we’ve ever had in place leading the descent to hell… that is Palin appeals to us Palinistas…she’s not blinded by raw ambitions or greed for power but love of this country and a willingness to give her all for it…I think she is willing to die(politically) trying… so I support her… trust me she loses to Obama in 2012 she goes home to beautiful remote self sufficient Alaska and mourns as she watches America die… but thinking to herself that she tried…

Is she going to wear a little Superwoman cape or a funny hat? So, you’ve gone beyond fan-girlism to some vomit-inducing hero worship?

No, but you’ve clearly gone into some vomit-inducing personal attacks.

She’s going to fly in singing ‘Here I come to saaave the daaaaaaaay!’

Basically, she already did with her Facebook Notes Posts that began last summer.

Just stop it. Please. She doesn’t deserve worship.

It’s only “gushing worship” to those who don’t care passionately about America.
She’s doing the same for the country that Ronald Reagan did for his country when he came onto the national scene.

Which makes your ’saving America’ meme all that much more nauseating.

austinnelly on July 31, 2010 at 2:24 AM

Your derision and ridicule of true patriots is what’s nauseating.
America does need saving and only Sarah Palin (or a conservative exactly like her like Jan Brewer or Chris Christie) can do it.
We need to roll back the onslaught of Liberalism and Socialism now before America itself is destroyed.

America does need saving and only Sarah Palin (or a conservative exactly like her like Jan Brewer or Chris Christie) can do it.

We need to roll back the onslaught of Liberalism and Socialism now before America itself is destroyed.

Jenfidel on July 31, 2010 at 5:21 AM

Ditto.

Nelly – do think Mittens is gonna save the country? I won’t even vote for him. I’ll vote for a 3rd party candidate before I waste another vote on a business as usual Republican pantywaist like Mittens.

I’d much rather have a leader who inspires people and makes news on a daily basis with their intelligent commentary on the current direction of our country (like Sarah America) than some mealy mouthed Republican who has already spent a lifetime in politics not changing a thing.

who is the highest-profile person in the GOP who’s been going toe-to-toe with the regime on policy for the last year?

VidOmnia on July 30, 2010 at 9:44 PM

The correct term is the administration, lawfully elected. Didn’t like the term when the Huffpo people used it for Bush and don’t like it now.
I didn’t realize she was going toe to toe – carping yes but to date I haven’t seen her even invited for a beer summit so they could duke it out or whatever.
Perception is in the eye of the beholder. Those who absolutely love Sarah (as opposed to those who like her and think she may have possibilities) really believe that she is the ONLY one.
This toe to toe with the regime sounds so much like the anti-Bush people talking of setting up a shadow government with the “legitimate” president Gore in charge.
In other words get a grip my internet colleague.

It’s only “gushing worship” to those who don’t care passionately about America.
She’s doing the same for the country that Ronald Reagan did for his country when he came onto the national scene.

Were you even alive or old enough to know what was happening at the time? I sort of doubt it. No one was carrying Reagan around like a King in 1978 – certainly not actin bats**t crazy with all of this sweeping “only one to save the country, onslaught…” verbiage.
Of course that was a time in history where people actually had to look someone in the eye to describe their beliefs and cared to some degree that the audience didn’t think them a flake. Which meant some proficiency in critical thinking skills.
Reasoned discourse used to work pretty well.
With the internet we can write all manner of manifestos, when we get ridiculed enough, we can rise from the ashes like the Phoenix and start all over again with a different handle.

Agreed, strong contender that truly provide others of the GOP a real run for their money.

Now to make her extremely strong against Obama (if he survives the rest of his first term – meaning surviving the political wildfires he is facing) she needs to visit those tanning booths that the newest Health Care Bill is trying tax out of existence.

With a deep tone tan (not orange – like Snokkie) Gov. Palin will be a shoe in.

However, I sense she could serve U.S. better as a spokesperson for family values, and turn those undecided onto our side.

Were you even alive or old enough to know what was happening at the time? I sort of doubt it. No one was carrying Reagan around like a King in 1978 – certainly not actin bats**t crazy with all of this sweeping “only one to save the country, onslaught…” verbiage.

I was alive in 1978, but was just a kid and not aware of current events. But I have it on good authority that there were those in the GOP then who talked about Reagan pretty much the same way you talk about Palin now: A mindless dolt ideologue with zombie followers who would be the end of the party.

Which meant some proficiency in critical thinking skills.
Reasoned discourse used to work pretty well.

No ddrintn but it is a good example of you looking in the mirror and projecting. With Palin if you don’t “adore” her you are a hater and a troll. If someone criticizes, no matter how legitimate the criticism you take a knee jerk response and get hysterical, calling them sexist or some other insult.

And Bradky, I was and we did.

Irritable Pundit on July 31, 2010 at 1:04 PM

Speak for yourself. I was learning the joys of finding a job in 1978 with the economy in the toilet. Got to cast my first presidential vote in 1980 and went for Reagan. But without the internet and cable tv the ferocity and viciousness toward candidates was simply not there. If your crowd liked to knock him as a dolt fair enough. But again, without cable and the internet those things didn’t go “viral” as quickly as they do now. Without cable and the internet most of us had to read to see what was going on.
But of this I am sure – no one was beating a drum from the day after the 1976 election saying anyone was the only hope for the country’s survival. You know darned well that the day after the 08 election the Palin cheerleaders pulled out the drums.

No ddrintn but it is a good example of you looking in the mirror and projecting. With Palin if you don’t “adore” her you are a hater and a troll. If someone criticizes, no matter how legitimate the criticism you take a knee jerk response and get hysterical, calling them sexist or some other insult.

Bradky on July 31, 2010 at 6:24 PM

Yeah, “legitimate” criticism that never seems to rise above the level of “she’s a stooooopid chillbilly quitter who would never win an election and only drooling cultists could possibly disagree”. What a wonder that only cultists would ever object to such “critical thinking” and “reasoned arguments”. Otherwose, do you have any specific examples of my blind “cultist” statements? Of course you don’t. You don’t deal in specifics, only broad-brush crap.

You are such a blockhead. Your buddy Jen has said some variation of that over and over.
Show me once where I criticized Palin about her looks, religion or even called her “stoopid”.
But you managed to criticize Christie’s weight and Jindal’s religion in one post.
You don’t like the label cultist? then quit acting like one.

You are such a blockhead. Your buddy Jen has said some variation of that over and over.
Show me once where I criticized Palin about her looks, religion or even called her “stoopid”.
But you managed to criticize Christie’s weight and Jindal’s religion in one post.
You don’t like the label cultist? then quit acting like one.

But you managed to criticize Christie’s weight and Jindal’s religion in one post.
You don’t like the label cultist? then quit acting like one.

Bradky on July 31, 2010 at 11:33 PM

In particular quote THAT post. Come on. Don’t like the label “moonbat liar”? Quit acting like one. And quoting your disparaging anti-Palin posts would be a time-consuming process. Readers are urged to browse any random Palin thread (you manage to troll most of them, pretty creepily).